The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-01-13

blood. Traitor! Nance!' said he; so
you were carrying on and we never
know'd it! and it was you as told
on your own flesh and blood, and
your fathers curse and mine too
Hold there cried young Jim, hitting
Dick on the mouth to stop his curses
they was afraid Of curses there) hold
there! She never knew and ne poured
it all ont as how it happened. and as
how he was always thinking on Nan.
cy, and sogiv'dup the coastguar dsing,
| part on her account and part on his
fathers. But afore he had ended
Dick were gone, and Nancy was all on
a heap with nought to say-but her
look cut up young Jim, and no mis-
take. l won't say but that he de-
served it-for he'd been double with
her-through love on her, no doubt,
but it's allays best to be straight,
and 50 he felt too late, and that had
he spoke truth when he told his love
he could but ha' lost her once, and
now he had lost her twice, and. the
losing on her respect were worse nor
the losing she.
"She were wonderful power of q
woman for all as was in her, and she'd
had little love except from Joe, and
ne were dead. So she said to Jim she
forgave him, but it were all to an end
between they she'd love he all the
days, but she couldn't wed her broth
er's murderer. That were all.
! "Well, the next on it was that when
they found as she'd given he up they
believed she had nought to say to it,
and was kind to her agin; as kind as
they ever was, and that warn't much,
but she was unaisy, and knew them
too we'll to think as they 'ud let Jim
Kemp be. Whyever Dick hadn't
killed him there and then she could
! not tell. But one night she were to
bed. and she heard some un come in
to the room next; her room were but a
lean-to, and they slept in the big
room. And she heard deal of whis-
pering, and then they took to drinking
and their voices gets louder and louder,
and she hears Kemp's name. and the
night after next named. and back
from Weyhill Fair and 'a-nigh his
gate, and ten on u.s. and the rest
will be there tomorrow, We four and
and they six. that's ten And then
hey gets noisier, and Dick, who al
ways kept his head, hushed some one
OMEN up, and turned him out into
the shed, and all was still. Nancy
knew not what was brewing. But
how to get at Jim? how to advertise
he? He would be off to Weyhill long
afore she could get to he, and she
COULDN'T get out without going through
the room with Dick in it, or through
the window into the shed with the
stranger there. Not that they was
strangers, for she know'd their voices;
they was of the Portsmouth crew.
"What should she do? how should
| she save her lover? for he was her lover,
and she know'd It, She know'd that,
| though she could never wed with he,
she could never love another May
hap there was som'at strange in her
manners, for all she made as though
she was cheerful like, or may be it were
from his own knowing what was COM
| ing; any how Dick looked sharply
after Nance all next day, and the day
after too. 1t were h hot, dry Sum-
mer, and the days were long, and
there was a full moon that night, and
no doubt that was the more conven.
| lent; not but that the Dedmans could
make their way blindfold anywhere
over the country round, and all their
crew.
"Dick went off somewhere to seven,
and said, careless like, as Nancy had
best not wait, for he and the old man
had business away, and would not be
back till very late mayhap, mayhap
earlier. Nance waited till he was gone,
then she took her flint and steel and
fastened the door, and went to the
shed and took the nag, they had only
lett the old marcy she didna' wait to
bride she, but off she went as fast as
the wind for Holder Hill over to the
sou'west from here. And she rode and
rode and went up the hill, up to the
Beacon Point, and there was the bon
fire oil laid ready, as dry as finder,
and she struck and struck and the
third time she got flame, and soon
the beacon was blazing and no mis-
! take. and she rode and she rode
toward Breakdown until the poor
beast could 60 no longer, so
she got off and let her go. And Nance
walked and walked, until all on a sud
den the light sprung up on Breakdown,
and she knew as sure as If she saw him
that her trap had taken, that Jim had
seen the fire on Holder, and instead
OF going home had turned off to light
up Breakdown.
1T was the war time, you see. and
he were keen for the cause, and was
the first once before to help light the
! signal. And she hurried on and came
up to he, and he turned round aud
cried, Why, Nancy, love! is it you?
There's been some victory, you may
| depcnd?' And she were out OF
breath and could scarce speak; but she
knew as sure as fate her brother and
his crew would come after their prey.
You see they had worked so long
together, these Dedmans, one SEEM
ed to guess the others thoughts
like; and she knew as when the
time went by, and Jim did not
! come home, and they saw the light
on Holder Hill and sudden the Ii ht
on Breakdown, they would guess as
how it were Nancy; or maybe only
think Jim was there instead of coming
home. However it be, she felt they
would follow up there, so she cried,
Fly, jim! fly! as quick as you can,
down that way. No! not home: Be
off! be off, away as far as you can go!
They're after We to murder We. and 1
lit the fire on Holder to turn you from
going home. They be waiting for you.
and now maybe they'll he following
you up mere. Give me your coat and
hat, Jim-see, I've none. I'm cold. And
go. Jim-go; can't go with you, Jim.
Goodbye, lad! Oh, lad, love you, lad:!'
And the stupid thickheaded fellow as he
was, he took of his long riding coat
and his SLOUGH hat and puts them on
her, and takes her in his arms, and
she gives him one kiss and sends him
oil. He steals down as quiet as q
mouse, untethers his nag, and off he
goes London way. And Nance? She
stood with her arms folded, her face
to the fire and her back to the path,
so as her figure is seen up against the
flames in Nh uncertain kind of way.